When you think of late-night trouble in Virginia, your mind probably jumps to rowdy humans or typical mischief. Not this time. One small town got an unusual visitor recently. Instead of stealing wallets or candy, this interloper went straight for the liquor.
What unfolded inside the Ashland ABC Store wasn’t just a burglary. It was a full-blown raccoon bender that left bottles smashed. Shelves toppled, and a very tipsy critter sprawled out in the bathroom. Officers responding to the unusual scene found a raccoon. Exhausted and clearly overwhelmed by its own indulgence, lying on its belly amid the wreckage.
The masked bandit had apparently sampled everything within reach. Judging by its condition, it had done so with reckless abandon. Officer Martin carefully transported the creature to the Hanover County Animal Shelter. The staff monitored the little guys as it recovered from what could only be described as a painful raccoon hangover.
After a few hours of sleep and some tender care, the raccoon was released back into the wild. Maybe with a newfound respect for sobriety. Or not. This isn’t the first time animals have learned the hard way that alcohol doesn’t mix with instinct.
A Tipsy Intruder Creates Chaos
Elephants in the wild have been known to overeat fermented fruit and stumble about. While camels in desert regions have sometimes taken in spoiled fruit juices and gotten dangerously intoxicated. Even reindeer are rumored to experiment with hallucinogenic mushrooms in the wild.
The Virginia raccoon joins a long, slightly tragic but undeniably hilarious list of creatures whose indulgences had unintended consequences. The story quickly went viral on all news and social media platforms. Social media users are joking about the raccoon’s beverage choices. They also applaud its ability to make it to the bathroom.
“The fact that he passed out next to the toilet,” laughs one follower.
“Hope he is able to sleep it off,” another adds.
The is only one way the ending would have been a little more amusing. That is, if the boozy raccoon was hanging over the bowl and vowing to never drink again.
In the end, no permanent harm was done. Except perhaps to the store’s inventory and, of course, the raccoon’s pride. Nevertheless, the tale serves as a humorous reminder that even wildlife can make questionable choices.
Moreover, in Virginia, you never quite know what or who might show up and cause chaos at your local liquor store. Fortunately, the raccoon has returned to its usual routines, but the community now has a story they won’t soon forget: the unforgettable night a raccoon got wasted and transformed the shelves into its own wild party zone.
Casey James 
Kenna Raye 
Sofia Bassett 
